Vampire Cultivation Notes

As far as Li Jieqing knew, the cheapest Chaoyang Jade Dew in the North Street of the market was only two spirit stones a bushel, enough for a year. They really thought he was an outsider trying to rip him off.

Now, the female cultivator simply ignored them and let Li Jieqing wander around the pavilion by himself.

That's just right.

Li Jieqing paced around for a while, then moved to the center of the pavilion.

A lacquered red beam rose from the ground, with a circumference of six zhang (approximately 33 meters). Countless magical artifacts hung from the top of the beam.

Having lost his only magical artifact, the Azure Water Sword, Li Jieqing honestly felt a little insecure lately. One of the reasons he rushed to Wanbaoge as soon as he left home was to examine the magical artifacts he admired.

From the top of the red-lacquered beams and pillars all the way down to the first floor, top-grade, high-grade, mid-grade, and low-grade magical artifacts were arranged in an orderly fashion, glittering and dazzling, almost blinding people.

Li Jieqing had visited this place years ago and was greatly amazed, saying that Wanbaoge truly lived up to its name.

"I wonder if there are any spiritual artifacts for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators."

At this moment, Li Jieqing pulled up his hood and looked up. While admiring him, he couldn't help but think of something even higher.

After all, times have changed, and he is now a powerful mid-stage Qi Refining expert.

"Fellow Daoist, don't even think about spiritual artifacts. Obtaining just one of those magical artifacts at the top in this lifetime is already a perfect outcome."

The female cultivator arrived again, looking at the beams and pillars, and said, "The three top-tier magic artifacts are the 'Thousand Illusions and Hundred Transformations Mask,' the 'Ruyi Heart Sword,' and the 'Hundred Steps Flying Banner,' all of which are the most precious treasures of Taiping Market."

"Excellent! Please explain it to me."

"That's easy to explain, especially the Ruyi Heart Sword, which originated from the Ruyi Sect, a prestigious sect..."

The female cultivator roused herself and began to explain the power of the magical artifact.

After a long pause, he finished speaking.

"Which one has caught your eye, fellow cultivator? It doesn't have to be a top-tier magic weapon," the female cultivator asked with a smile.

"We'll talk about that later."

Li Jieqing also put on a smiling face and took out the Fengxin Pill he had refined: "Actually, I came to ask if your Wanbao Pavilion accepts pills from outside."

"..."

Go away!

Ultimately, they couldn't agree on a price.

Not long after, Li Jieqing left with a heavy heart.

The female cultivator behind her gradually calmed down, staring at his retreating figure and pondering for a while.

"What a handsome and cunning customer! I've never heard of him before. He's probably from out of town, and he's going to North Street to sell pills. I wonder if he refined them himself... I need to report this to the manager."

……

North Street.

Li Jieqing glanced around, but eventually ended up at Old Liu's stall as usual.

Although Old Liu guessed the alchemist's identity last time, it didn't matter; the risk could be hedged. Now that Wanbaoge knows, and as the news spreads, it won't be so easy for Old Liu to harm him quietly.

Besides, Old Liu has always had an excellent reputation; he might really be a good person.

"Oh! It's been a few days since I've seen you, young friend. A few days ago, an acquaintance of mine found a two-foot-long, twenty-year-old chicken blood vine. How about we go take a look?"

At the stall, Old Liu greeted everyone with shining eyes.

Li Jieqing paused, almost bursting into laughter on the spot.

After rubbing his forehead for a moment, he said, "I am not worthy of such a treat; let's leave it at that."

"Hehe, I'll go find him in a few days and talk to him, and get those two feet of vine back."

Old Liu chuckled twice, then stopped laughing and gave the stall owner next door a look.

Why does this young outsider sound like he's speaking local slang?

Not right.

The benefits from last time were given away for nothing.

"Enough with the small talk, I've come here specifically to make a deal with you."

Li Jieqing reached into his robes and pulled out a jade bottle.

"Taipingfang Market is a good place. This time it's a mid-grade Fengxin Pill. Name your price."

Upon hearing that it was a mid-grade pill, Old Liu's expression became more serious. He took the bottle, opened it, and carefully smelled the aroma of the recently produced pill. He then examined the contents of the bottle closely through the opening.

It's definitely a mid-grade Fengxin Pill; this is quite a good deal.

"Six spirit stones," Old Liu said.

"Too few!"

Li Jieqing glared at him, but in reality, Wanbaoge was only willing to offer five spirit stones for the purchase.

"Six dollars isn't a small amount, sigh..."

Old Liu negotiated the price for a while, but seeing that Li Jieqing wouldn't budge, he had no choice but to back down and earn a little less.

"How about seven spirit stones?"

"make a deal!"

Seven spirit stones were already within Li Jieqing's acceptable price range, so he stopped arguing and simply took out the other two bottles of Fengxin Pills from his pocket.

There are many cultivators in the market, but Li Jieqing doesn't have the channels to sell his Fengxin Pills to anyone in need, so selling them at a discount is inevitable.

Selling it to the large and established Wanbaoge company would be a safe bet, but the price they offered was driven down too drastically.

Selling on North Street might earn more, but it inevitably attracts covetous eyes.

The risks involved are something only Li Jieqing can handle. If it were some outside alchemist who didn't know the intricacies, he might suffer a major setback, or even die.

"There are three portions..."

Old Liu took the pill, carefully examined its properties, and accepted it with an expression that suggested he hadn't paid enough for it earlier.

However, having no excuse to delay, he made a show of counting out twenty-one spirit stones.

"I still don't know how to address you, fellow Daoist?"

"His name is not worth mentioning; he is called Zhao Zhengqing and comes from the east."

"So it's Fellow Daoist Zhao, please."

Old Liu handed over the bag containing the spirit stones.

Li Jieqing didn't rush to accept the offer, but instead said, "Let's calculate first. I need three feet of chicken blood vine, a peck of Morning Sun Jade Dew, two hundred catties of blood bamboo charcoal, fifty fresh jade bottles, and..."

"Fellow Daoist Li, I rarely have Blood Bamboo Spirit Charcoal; I only have thirty catties at the moment."

"Then let's start with thirty jin."

"Would you like tiger blood?"

Old Liu took out a gourd from behind his back. Before he even opened it on the stage, a strong smell of blood filled the air, clearly indicating that it contained not the blood of ordinary tigers.

North of Wangyue Valley outside the market, a group of white tigers live year-round, accompanied by eerie winds.

This tiger blood comes from there, and it's one of the bloods of several demonic beasts suitable for preparing the Fengxin Pill.

"Tiger blood?"

Li Jieqing casually took the gourd and sniffed it.

The stench of blood assaulted his senses, and the malevolent spirits moved about without wind, almost blowing Li Jieqing's hood open.

"This tiger blood is hard to come by," Old Liu said. "I have a friend who, while exploring Moon Gazing Valley, encountered a swarm of white-haired tigers to the north. They were strange in appearance, and he barely managed to kill one and escape."

"Based on my experience, I'm afraid it's a pack of demonic tigers migrating this way."

Old Liu stroked his beard and continued speaking eloquently: "When the demon tiger moves, all the beasts in the wilderness will follow, and the annual beast tide will surely be approaching."

"Oh, I heard that the last beast tide in Taipingfang City was five years ago."

Li Jieqing put down the gourd containing tiger blood.

It was a strange feeling; even the superior tiger blood wasn't as attractive to him as the blood of a minor cultivator in the early stages of Qi Refining.

"That's right. Five years ago, the beast tide was extremely fierce. It also came from Wangyue Valley, and countless people died or were injured."

Old Liu didn't take the Tiger Blood Gourd. Instead, he changed the subject, saying, "So, if Fellow Daoist Zhao is going to leave the market recently, remember not to travel alone. I, Liu, have a great reputation in the market..."